Olinko Vieira Angulo: "Mexico is interested in attaining status of observer under GUAM"

Day.Az blitz interview with Olinko Vieira Angulo, professor of the Center of International relations of Mexico National Autonomous University.

- What is the basis for expansion of cooperation between our remote countries?

- There are numerous perspective trends for cooperation. Mexico is interested in intensification of cooperation with Azerbaijan as we are primarily interested in energy sources. Mexico is also an oil country and Azerbaijan has wide experience in drilling, development and transportation of energy sources.

We have recently faced a problem related to privatization of oil sector and search of new oil fields in Mexico as volumes of oil production are declining and therefore we are obliged to reduce export of our oil, especially to the United States. In this sense we are interested in development of cooperation with Azerbaijan in the oil sector.

Meanwhile, energy is not the only sphere, in which the interaction of our two countries can be mutually profitable. Other perspective directions for cooperation are commerce, culture and so on.

Only a small representative office of Azerbaijan is currently functioning in Mexico, but there is a plan to open a full embassy. Mexico also intends to open embassy in Baku. Certainly, this would be a great stimulus for expansion of bilateral ties.

- You have mentioned economic and humanitarian cooperation. But how do you assess prospects of bilateral interaction in political sphere? In particular, can Azerbaijan count on Mexico's support in Nagorno Karabakh issue on the international arena?

- I am sure yes, for we respect the issue of sovereignty and territorial integrity of any country and we respect any decision, passed by the government of Azerbaijan in this direction. We recognize the inviolability of Azerbaijani territory and I am sure that you can attain positive results in the problem resolution.

- Your visit to Baku aims at participating in the GUAM conference. What lies in Mexico's interest in this organization?

- Currently, we are interested in attaining status of an observer under GUAM and we study possibilities of reaching this goal.